Don’t get me wrong. I realize Kato is quality second to none, but I own a lot of Concor items that Kato also produces versions of, and I’ve compared them side by side and found that there’s very little difference in the outward appearance of them. The thing I especially like about Concor products is that they only cost half of what Kato products do, and I only buy Kato if I don’t have any other choice…
So how do you folks feel about it ?.
Con-Cor HO is not a big favorite among modelers. I suspect it’s something like owning a Lexus versus a KIV.
I’m interested in their HO Pioneer Z but Con-Cor only offers a thirty day warranty and for $379.00, it’s a high risk.
If I wanted inexpensive HO locos with a good reputation then I would take a look at the P1K models, like a the lower priced Camry
I have 1 ConCor GP38 that my Dad gave to me as a gift in 1998.
It’s nice in the fact that it is quiet but I don’t think I’d buy another.
The only piece of Kato equipment I have is the CPR Business car & I have to admit I love it! I am considering buying a Kato locomotive one day, but it will be a day when I have nothing else to buy including more track, switches & cork.
For buying inexpensive locomotives, I’d go with Proto 1000 or Athearn.
Gordon
I have dozens of Con-Cor HO 85 ft Budd stainless steel passenger cars in my collection … nicely done (VIA Rail, Canadian Pacific (maroon stripe w/beaver heralds), and CP Rail (action red). No one had these cars at the time I wanted them - and those who eventually marketed ‘some’ of them (Walthers) did so at very high and unacceptable (to me) prices.
Now, Con-Cor is HORRIBLE to deal with in the customer "dis"service department … they hardly ever answer e-mails, and if you wind up with that (blankety blank) who sometimes handles the phone inquires - you are better off talking to the dog!
Can’t comment on Kato because I don’t have anything by them … however, I do believe from viewing their products (at train shows) that they are in a word - premier. Just don’t make what I want - or better put, since my layout is about as completed as it can get - they didn’t have what I wanted when I wanted it!
See ya![tup]
Mechanically, there’s no comparison. Kato uses a very high quality, quiet and powerful can motor, and Con-Cor uses open frame skewed armature motors that seem to be more suitable for slot cars than trains.
I have two Con-Cor MP-15 diesel switchers that were advertised at the time as “DCC Ready” but they had small open-frame motors bolted directly to the frame. Putting decoders into them required major modification, which turned out to not be worth the time and expense because their drive mechanisms are poorly made.
A friend recently purchased a Con-Cor Galloping Goose in HO scale and asked me to install a SoundTraxx sound decoder into it. Con-Cor is still using the same open-frame slot car motor that was in the MP-15. and their drive shaft and gearing system has not changed.
Con-Cor Route 66 model vehicles are very good products, but their locomotives are cheaply made and overpriced.
ConCor is the resting place for many models that were state of the art when introduced. There is no way to make a generalized statement about thier offerings. For example thier HO SW7 is the Revell shell from the late 1950’s. Actually a very good shell by the up until the standards of the 1990’s. ConCor initially offerred it on an Athearn SW chassis, and later on a Kato chassis.
The ConCor GP38, GP40, SD24 and SD35 are the same models Atlas imported from Roco in the late 1970’s. The tooling is more worn, etc. But they are a good source for many parts.
The ConCor E7 and E9 also came from Roco, they are the ex Model Power models.
ConCor has imported models from Kato (the N scale PA), Rivarossi and others.
Nigel
No kato to compare with, but my experience is that ConCor are good runner for not so good laid layout.
- my ConCor superline cars ran good, in comparison I was never able to have the Walthers (a lot more expensive) run on my too tight curves.
- my Illinois central GP40 ran so well that I bought a second one.
Biggest disadvantage: to install Kadee you need to cut&glue plastic (something up to now I refuse to inflict on my models).
sebastiano
I will go with Kato every time, and never buy con-cor or athearn, even if they are the only people who produce the best train of all time. (Which they don’t) Katos run very well, look swell, and get the job done with style. I still have some old (late 1990s) con-cor coaches, which derail all the time, even with extra weight, which I am using as test beds for my painting skills, painting them into my freelance Alberta Pacific. (And I don’t paint multicolours well at all.)
Trainboy
Trainboy
I have I my possession both Kato and Concor Superliner cars. I must admit that the Concor cars looks nice but that’s as far as it goes. The Kato superliner cars are 10 times better though. If you should couple five of the Concor cars on a track and pull/puhem with your finger then do the same with ten 12 of the version Kato the Kato ones runs alot smoother. Concor superliner cars have no interior details, I wihey would have made it alot easier for you to go in and add some details without the risk of destroying the body of the the car.
Richard
kato is way overpriced i will stick with concor love em
I think we need to compare apples to apples here. Concor and Kato fulfil different places in the model train world. Concors are basic, and they utilize old designs, but they are relatively inexpensive. Kato produces higher end models with updated designs that accommodate DCC and whatnot. So to compare the two really isn’t fair. It would be like comparing a 1995 Ford ranger to a 2020 Ford ranger. They both preform the same basic duties, but the 2020 model has more bells and whistles (pun intended, not sorry), however it probably costs 10 times more. It all boils down to what the modeler wants to use it for. Basic but cheaper, advanced but more pricey. Personal preference, pure and simple.
When talking about Japanese products one has to consider the work of Arthur Demming in post WW2 Japan. As a child I had several rin Japanese toys that lasted about a week. Demming introduced statistical quality control which led to the quality improvement In their products. Toward the end of his life he said they had far exceeded his ideas. Japanese business practices are on a different track but they do produce high quality items across most business groups.
Sigh. I am confused by your post and need clarification. Exactly what are you implying that should be put out of its misery and thrown onto the back of the cart?
Is it:
A. The 16 year old bait.
B. The fisherman who threw it into the water.
C. The fish who will rise up to swallow the hook.
D. All of the above.
Inquiring minds need to know[:-^]
I see what Bear did. [;)][:D]
Anonymous is a catch all for people have been deleted from the forum. One of the original posters posted in 2020, the rest last posted 2018, 2013 2008.
Doh. Necro topic!
This one from way back to 2005!
Didn’t know they still existed.
I think you get what you pay for.
There are certain products that provide what I want: quality detailing, quality mechanisms and handrails that don’t lean excessively.
It’s a very short list of manufacturers. I stick to that list.
John
Not to veer too far into forbidden territory, but I recall that in Fall 2016 the owner of Con-Cor sent out an e-mail to everyone on their mailing list (including I guess anyone who ever bought anything direct from Con-Cor) urging them to vote for one of the two presidential candidates, talking about it being a ‘life or death’ situation for the country. I know as someone who supported the other candidate, I wasn’t happy with the e-mail, and I suspect I can’t have been the only one. Wouldn’t seem to me to be a wise decision for a company to get overtly involved in politics like that?
Why should trains be any different than pillows?